Projects for an electrician

Unless you know what you're doing exceptionally well, carefully consider the prospects if you're planning on do-it-yourself electrical work. You can easily get in over your head, causing costly damage, creating potentially dangerous hazards and run afoul of local or state electrical code and regulations. In general, electricians say you can handle installing receptacles, outlets and lighting fixtures as a DIY job if you have a clear idea what you're doing, but more complex work requires expert help.

Electrical work covers a wide variety of tasks, ranging from major jobs like home rewiring or breaker box replacement to minor work like installing fans or upgrading electrical outlets with USB ports.

Though the basics of electrical work have not significantly changed in the last few decades, electrical contractors and homeowners alike face new challenges as advancing technology creates heavier demand on electrical loads and presents new opportunities for major upgrades such as home automation.

Electricians can also conduct home electrical system inspections that will identify problem areas, future trouble spots and areas of immediate concern. Such an inspection can take place before you buy a home or any time afterwards to check your status.

Your home may be giving you several clues that you need immediate help from a professional electrician. If you feel mild shocks or tingles from appliances, you may have a ground fault issue that requires attention (although shocks after crossing a carpeted surface aren't cause for concern.) If your ceiling fixtures are warm or lights are flickering, that may be a sign of loose wiring. Light switches or receptacles that turn on and off at random could be signalling a problem with loose wiring or internal damage. If any outlet emits a burning odor or sparks, shut down the electrical panel right away and call an electrician for help, as you could be at immediate risk for fire.

Many homes built before 1950 contain old-fashioned knob and tube wiring, which is widely believed to pose a hidden risk to homeowners. It was the primary wiring method from the 1880s through the 1930s, and still used into the 1970s for some new home construction. This form of older wiring creates a risk of faults and fires, and often can't handle the electrical load of modern houses.

Electricians can also install whole house surge protectors. Whole house surge protection blocks incoming surges at the breaker box and can protect your electronics and appliances from damaging electrical surges if you live in an area prone to lightning strikes.

Trained electricians know the significance
of electrical wire color codes.

Older and outdated breaker boxes often present problems such as fire hazards or overloaded circuits.

Electricians can also install and upgrade outlets for safety purposes. An arc fault circuit interruptor (AFCI) outlet cuts off power in the breaker box as soon as it detects a sharp spike or drop in voltage. This prevents dangerous sparks or excessive heat, which is a common cause of residential electrical fires. A ground fault circuit interruptor (GFCI) outlet detects disturbances in current and shuts off electrical flow quickly. This protects against electrical shock by breaking the circuit immediately, faster than circuit breakers or fuses. They are typically installed in areas that come in contact with water, like kitchens or bathrooms, but can be installed anywhere. Although they primarily protect against electrocution, they also provide further protection against fires and damage to appliances. A GFCI outlet can normally be identified by the "reset" and "test" buttons on their face.